§ 1. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the revelations before the 1527 Public Control Committee of the London County Council recently, he will see that British Consuls abroad are informed of the pending visits to their areas of British women and girls on entertainment contracts and that they should protect their interests where necessary and report all irregularities?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)I think this answer also replies to the Supplementary Question put by the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. Briant) a few days ago. Before passports are granted to theatrical or variety artists who are taking up employment abroad, it is the practice of the Passport Office to consult the Stage Guild or the Variety Artists' Federation, as the case may be. Even if the artists are not members of either of these associations, these associations are always prepared to advise the Passport Office on the subject of the contract which an artist applying for a passport to take up work abroad must produce in order to obtain a passport. If the Guild or the Federation are unable to recommend an employer, the Passport Office make further inquiries from the police here or from His Majesty's Consuls abroad.
According to the findings of the Public Control Committee of the London County Council in the recent case at Brussels, the fault lay with the London agents who had failed to fulfil their obligations to their clients by satisfying themselves of the conditions of engagement and the standing of the persons by whom they were engaged. The original contracts had been approved in the usual way by the Variety Artists' Federation before the passports were issued.
Moreover, as soon as His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Brussels heard that the troupe were in difficulties, he offered to repatriate them, but his offer was refused. It would seem that if his offer had been accepted, the subsequent difficulties would not have arisen. This was an isolated case and I feel that the general position is adequately met by existing precautions.
The protection of the interests of this class of British subject is part of the general duty of His Majesty's Consular Officers and oases of irregularities are 1528 of rare occurrence. Any such iregularities would be reported as a matter of course and the necessary action taken, as was done in the case to which attention has been called.
§ Viscount SANDONIn view of the fact that, in spite of all precautions, the passport regulations may not make prevention of abuse absolutely watertight, and as irregularities have existed before, could there be any harm in circularising the consuls in advance as to these visits, as a greater safeguard?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIt would be quite possible to circularise the consuls as suggested by my Noble Friend, but I think that they are already fully seized of the obvious importance of this matter.
§ Mr. DAYDo the same arrangements apply with regard to artists, dancers, and chorus girls who are engaged for South America, as many of them get out there and find that they have been sent out under bogus contracts and are impressed into houses of ill fame?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONOh, no. I understand that these arrangements apply to everybody, and no passport is issued unless a contract is presented, and a contract has to be signed by the licence holder.
§ Mr. DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these artists are booked by people who are not licence holders, that the licence only applies to the area of the County of London, and that many of these engagements are made in the provincial districts?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONNo, Sir. I have made very careful inquiries on various occasions, and this morning, and I understand that no passport is ever issued unless the contract is produced and is recommended or signed by the Guild or Federation.